In a historic shift, Pope Francis has formally granted approval for Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples, marking a significant departure from the church’s previous stance. The decision, detailed in a Vatican document approved by the Pope, allows blessings under certain conditions, excluding them from regular Church rituals, liturgies, or civil union ceremonies.
The ruling, an extension of the Pope’s openness declared last October, represents a departure from the 2021 Vatican doctrine office’s stance that explicitly prohibited such blessings, asserting that God “cannot bless sin.” The recent shift is attributed to Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, an ally of Pope Francis, who assumed leadership of the doctrine department in July 2023.
The document specifies that when individuals seek blessings, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be a precondition, emphasizing the grace of God working in the lives of those who humbly acknowledge themselves as sinners. While the new ruling opens “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for same-sex couples,” the decision-making process is entrusted to the “prudent and fatherly discernment of ordained ministers.”
Jesuit priest James Martin, a prominent supporter of LGBTQ+ rights within the Catholic Church, hailed the ruling as a “huge step forward.” He noted that the declaration allows non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, a practice previously off-limits for clergy.
The Pope’s efforts to alter the church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues began in 2013 when he stated, “Who am I to judge?” regarding gay clergy. Since then, Pope Francis has advocated for civil recognition of same-sex couples, distinct from marriage, and sought to soften the Vatican’s language concerning LGBTQ+ individuals.
The ruling clarifies that offering blessings to same-sex and unmarried couples does not validate their status or alter the Church’s teachings on marriage. While the Catholic Church maintains that sex should occur only within marriage, the document asserts that the meaning of a blessing extends beyond a narrow viewpoint. It emphasizes that the Pope envisions a Church that does not solely “deny, reject, and exclude” but embraces a broader understanding of blessings.
Despite Pope Francis’ efforts to shift the church’s approach, opposition persists from a vocal minority within the institution. The ruling is expected to face resistance from these quarters. The Vatican’s decision underscores the Pope’s commitment to fostering inclusivity while navigating the complexities of tradition and evolving societal perspectives.
How is this news when the Roman Catholic is known to be full of Pedophiles and child rapits and young boy sodomisers…….People are always afraid to talk about the evils that Happen in the Catholic Church ..at least now you know what they stand for…mark of the beast 666
@Ano, why didn’t you fight back when you got raped in Catholic? Are you mentally retarded, You such an idyot.
Just go marry the one who fvcked you, you are free now.
The most useless pope ever. Ni chimambala Useless….Futseki!!!
Civil law in some countries stipulates that homosexuality is no criminal act. Since the Catholic Church does not define what becomes law in modern democracies, Pope Francis does not want the church to continue to be a hindrance to “progress”.
@Gunner, You call this progress?
If God punished the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, what exempts us from being punished by God?
It is a pity that a church like the Roman Catholic is at the center of disobeying and allowing such laws against God.
This however does not change what the bible has said about homosexuality.
Leviticus 18:22 ~ You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Leviticus 20:13 ~ If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Jude 1:7 ~ Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Papa wa ku Roma napena…….He needs prayers. Please send him to John General.
Piranha, try to understand. Homosexuality remains un-Christian like every sin. It’s not the church that legalised it but civil authorities in Western countries.
The end of the world.
Catholics and Deja Vu tell us. Can another Pope later come and overturn this????
The Bible isnt supposed to adjust to the demands of the civil rights movement. Then we need new apostles.
@Kateka ishimu..Yes. It is called recanting a heretic statement. The current pope can choose to denounce and retract his earlier position or the successor can overturn a statement or opinion held at odds with what is generally canonically accepted.
What a shameful day for all Christians, this is the greatest betrayal ever seen in the church of Christ and we all as Christians will be under the wrath of God for permitting such an abomination to occur.
Does societal evolution mean moving away from what is obvious? Guidance is needed on the said ruling.
It’s progress in the sense that homosexuals are not being killed or being jailed or discriminated against for being homosexual. Instead they’re being given a chance to reform. A homosexual relationship between two consenting adults does not hurt any third party.
Live and let live
this is wonderful news for those amongst us who are affected
What a shame. He might as well allow our priests to marry because it’s not a sin to marry the opposite gender. But it’s a great sin to marry or bless same gender couples.
And why not ? They do it behind the scenes
What’s the punishment for murder in the Bible, that is, the Old Testament? Civil authorities in many countries including Zambia have since abolished the death sentence for murder. Why are you not challenging this on Biblical grounds? Civil authorities realise that sometimes mistakes are made in the prosecution and conviction of murder accused persons. If God’s law stipulates the death penalty for murder, then God should ensure that no mistakes are made by the state in murder cases. Will God do that? Good luck with that.
‘All that’s necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing’
The church must not pray for a person who is sinning so that they continue in sin. They can’t endorse my sin and sinning. Let me as a sinner, sin alone without Christ’s bride being complicity to my sins.
It’s time for true christians to leave the catholic church that nutsack just went against what the holy bible forbids
We won’t leave but will pray and hope he’s been quoted wrongly… otherwise he will have to become Emeritus.
What the bible said ??
What about Jesus and his so called anointing young boys
was that not controversial ?
The bible is very specific on this subject. In Leviticus it says YOU SHALL NOT LIE WITH A FELLOW MAN AS YOU WOULD LIE WITH A WOMAN.
In Genesis the city of Gomorrah was destroyed because of what the Pope is promoting
As with priests celibacy, the Bible neither supports or condemns it. This is simply based on what St Paul says in his letters: IT’S EASIER TO DO GOD’S WORK IF YOU ARE SINGLE (paraphrase). The Bible doesn’t forbid marriage among the clergy.
This is very unfortunate.
No where in the bible dies it say that. Dont twist the bible to suit yiur twisted mind. Jesus blessed little CHILDREN not little boys in public.
I think the world is messed up because of Politicians and Religion……if we get rid of Politicians and Religion the world would be a beautiful place to live…..Politicians and Religion always misleading people….its very common in the Catholic seminary for senior Nuns to have sexual relationships with junior Nuns….and Senior Priests having sexual relationships with junior Priests….not to mention the Altar boys (ba kampenga) who are constantly raped by Priests….RELIGION IS A SCAM
Helix, a spirited and curious DNA strand, was determined to unlock the secrets of life by carrying out its four essential functions: encoding information, mutation and recombination, and gene expression. As it zipped through the cell, Helix could feel the weight of responsibility on its chemical bonds.
One fateful day, as Helix diligently worked on encoding information, it felt a strange presence in the nucleus. A shimmering consciousness, named Conny, had entered the cell. Conny was a curious entity who sought to understand the inner workings of living organisms, and the nucleus seemed like the perfect place to begin its journey.
Time to join Archbishop Milingo
This Pope is something else, kaya kaya. One wonders if the book that is so important to many is actually original. The same clique also decided which books to include or exclude from the “original scripts”. This is suspect. Some swear that KJV is the true word of God.
He will be ousted. US Bishops are totally against it. I’m they will manage to remove Francis
Next? Abortion will be blessed by the Vatican
RELIGION IS A SCAM….and all these catholic Priests…Reverends..bishops etc they know that RELIGION IS JUST A SCAM
Religion is a fraud.
That’s why Jesus spent his entire ministry life fighting religious leaders.
They killed him for that.
Leviticus Is this even recognised in this day and age ?
Then we must follow an eye for an eye OK
Religion is a mind game and will eventually become irrelevant in many years to come
Its money money
KJV Matthew 5:17-19
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
#Tikki don’t scratch the top but go deeper… Jesus abolished the An EYE FOR AN EYE and replaced it with GIVE THE OTHER CHEEK
He did in fact emphasize the importance of marriage… God created Man and woman and the two of them will become one body.
I’m Catholic but I can tell you that the Pope has made this declaration out senility and he will soon find himself on the streets of Buenos Aires.
Not the streets of Rome?
Francesco has been laying a foundation for such an announcement from the time he was installed in 2013. Showing compassion, care, understanding and accepting the gays has been his trademark of his reign. But most of us were never ready for this announcement. True that Christianity is love, some lovemaking is not allowed in the Bible. The next Pope will have to reverse blessing such matrimonial couples.
Am a Catholic but I think it’s high time this church is chased from this country before that nonsense gets here.
Who will chase them? This is the opportunity someone has been looking for.
Russian Orthodox church is the future
Zm what do they preach? I could join them.
Here in zambia, hh is way ahead of the Vatican. They have relaxes the laws to even allow their fellow gays to protest freely when opposition can’t even buy snacks at the road side
Gays also have rights whether you like it or not
With what the opposition looted they will all be comfortable for the next 20 years ++
So no road side snacks for them
Religion and Politics same nonsense…..the World is messed up right now because of Religion and Politics….and Pope Francis is a known Pedophile
But how and why?
Do we read the same bible?
Religion mafi yeka yeka.
God this and God that .. with over 5,000 known and recorded Gods what makes some think theirs is the right one,
We know ours is real because most other Gods/prophets have died and have tombs or burial sites here on earth. Ours (Christ) was buried, rose from the dead and is ascended to be with God the Father in Heaven; AND guess what? He is coming back….
As they journeyed through the nucleus, Helix and Conny forged a deep bond, each learning from the other and broadening their understanding of the universe. Helix’s mission had taken on a new dimension, as it realized that its purpose extended beyond the confines of the cell. Together with Conny, it sought to unravel the mysteries of life itself, embracing the boundless potential of their partnership.
Now you understand why those Catholic Bishos in Zambia behave the way they do. Serious pretenders and evil.
Lucifer confirmed.
And here was catholucs on this pkatfirm accusing UPND of BEING pro-homosexuality while it was their own pope all along. What is it they say? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
It doesn’t matter who committed the wrong. A wrong is a wrong. Problem with people like you, you jump at anything to justify your wrongs.
If the Pope has been quoted right then he’s wrong
And if Upnd want to introduce LGBT then they are wrong.
Deja vu, UPND is not on any record anywhere as having promoted gay rights. We hear these allegations from some opposition members, some of whom are catholics whose pope has just gone on promoted in black and white that he is pro gays and not only that, happy to bless their union.
So by your own argument , dont accuse people where you have no evidence.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, IN ORDER TO ACCOMODATE ALL MANNER OF DOCTRINES AND ENLARGE ITS MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING IDOL WOSHIP, HAS ALWAYS EMBRACED ALL COMERS.
IT HAS EVEN ALTERED THE BIBLE TEXT LIKE THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
SO, NOTHING NEW HERE
This Pope has lost his nuts and Christianity in the West is dead. The only faith that holds strong is Islam.
LGBTQ is a white man’s disease and must be kept out of Africa.
Why do you insult Christianity this what the SDAs have been warning you that the pope of Rome is the antichrist, he opposes the teaching of christ: KJV 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-9
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
LGBT is a desease ?? How do you come to that conclusion ???
Medical Journals state otherwise !!!
Welcome back
Cont: and the church of Rome is Babylon and the whore of Revelation 18, 17.
The have wandered after Idols and the changed the day of worship from the seventh day to the first day of the week. Read: Genesis 2:1-3, exodus 20:8-11, Leviticus 23:3 with Ezekiel 23:37-38, Daniel 7:23-25
The only problem with everything is our Archaic African Mentality
This is the 21st Century
As a young major seminarian studying for the catholic priesthood many years ago, one of the things I learnt from Church doctrine was the principle of the infallibility of the Pope. Meaning whatever the Pope said was less prone to error because it was arrived at through a process of wide consultation and consensus among the college of cardinals. But Bishops across the globe are calling for the resignation of the Pope because he has not treated them as “brothers” by not consulting them and reaching consensus with them over the issue of blessing gay or lesbian couples. Therefore, if a priest or bishop does not subscribe to blessing gay or lesbian couples, why should he do it and not recuse himself from this?
If you are not a Woman, you must be a Man. Nothing more or less. Gender changes, transitioning and reassignment or whatever one does with their body including marrying someone of the same gender as yours doesn’t mean God does not love you. We are all sinners and fallen short of Gods glory. The worsed sin however is glorifying a sin. Blessing a sin. Our societal role is to support and show love to sinners! Marriage is an institution championed by God only when two genders, Man/Woman, are involved.
The current Pope is very liberal. I hope to see a conservative one come in place to reverse such changes that are so unBiblical. The Bible must stand firm, correct, impartial and true in the past, present and for the future.
One cold reality about homosexuality is that it is against nature. If everyone living on the face of the earth was to become exclusively homosexual, the entire human race would be wiped out in no time.
Another conservative pope? On this earth and in this world order? Jesus may come in the morning or evening… Just keep in tune brother man
This act is irreversible
One cold reality about homosexuality is that it is against nature. If everyone living on the face of the earth was to become exclusively homosexual, the entire human race would be wiped out in no time.
The dogma of the infallibility of the Pope that preserves him from wrongdoing when he makes a pronouncement on matters of church doctrine dictates that this is done in accordance with scripture and apostolic traditions. In addition, papal infallibility is shared in the sense that what the Pope proclaims must be in consultation with the college of cardinals. In the case of blessing same-sex couples, some Bishops in the US are of the view that the current Pope is not treating them as brothers as he has not widely consulted and reached consensus with them. Hence catholic Bishops and Priests may decline to bless same-sex couples.
He is the Lucifer just like our own Zambian bishop Lucifer.
Odin and Valhalla are just as real as your God & Heavan
As many have said Jesus was the son of God, I dont dispute that
But which God bearing in mind there were many back then NERO & Herod were called gods by the people,
leaving the question who did Mary visit ?? Jacob didnt know
The writing s always been on the wall for the enlightened to see but for the many brainwashed in africa it always has to be hidden until it’s scripted in bold
Since religion/political unions brought colonialism the same gforces have been supplanting Africa’s traditional values without regard for its consciousness, seen in its fierce resistance to lgbtq madness
What next for the african, say ugandan church
This ***** should have allowed Priest to marry. The priests have been busy manufacturing children and infecring innocent women in the parishes and he should have even disbandend the sister hood as their only realnexistenxe is to sleep with priest
@ Nostradamus
I don’t have time to argue or insult you back….you win and i lose….thank you
This pope has just turned the RCC into a synagogue of Satan. True Christian believers must leave and find a Bible believing church. What a shame.
This.was.expected Rome is the capital of.sin they practiced homosexuality without remorse ,it was a matter of time till the scam was exposed. Better stay home on Sunday or pray through your ancestors than following this scam of ages
It’s gratifying that our Bishops have come out that NO SAME GENDER UNION will be blessed by the Church in Zambia.